Monthly Archives

February 2016

Base Makeup Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation Review

February 29, 2016

Laura Mercier launched a new foundation formula earlier this year called the Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation ($48 for 30 ml/1 fl oz). I’ve been playing with this formula for a few months now, testing a few shades over different bases and trying to see how it wears compared to other glow foundation formulas and I’ve found that it is one of the most luminous foundations I’ve ever tried. The Candleglow Foundation comes in 24 shades and is described as having a sheer to medium finish with buildable coverage. I find it to be on the sheer side with a noticeably dewy finish. I love a good glow, but for me the foundation finish is a bit too dewy on its own and needs a soft powder to set. It’s dewy but not greasy looking. Unfortunately once you add any kind of powder, the dewy glow disappears which kinda defeats the purpose of the product, but you still get a natural looking finish. (I’ve been setting with the Translucent Loose Setting Powder.) The formula is described as a hydrating formula – I did find it to have a hydrating feel but it’s a very lightweight formula and doesn’t feel heavy.

Comparing it to other formulas, the new Candleglow Foundation is not quite as sheer as the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but definitely sheerer than the Flawless Fluide and Silk Creme Oil Free Formula. The packaging of the new foundation is well designed – I think it’s the best one yet from Laura Mercier. It comes in a sleek glass bottle and a very well designed pump dispenser. It’s very sturdy and has a nice simple streamlined look which I really like for an easy to use no-fuss kind of look. For me, I need three pumps of product to have enough to apply for my whole face. I like using the Sephora Pro Full Coverage Airbrush #53 brush with this formula, but you can use fingers or a sponge too. It glides on smoothly and evens out the skin in a very sheer natural kind of way. I couldn’t detect any scent which is a plus for those with sensitive noses.

Since the formula is on the sheer side, it makes the colors more forgiving so you don’t need a 100% exact match which is exactly what I need with this line. When it comes to Laura Mercier foundation shades, matching is always so incredibly tricky for me. I’ve made several visits to the counter to get matched for past formulas. Every single time I’ve been to a counter, I’ve been matched to a different shade. My Flawless Fluide match was Honey when I was last matched and it’s worked for quite some time. If you recall my original review, you might remember my surprise since it’s very pink in undertone. I have olive/yellow skin and Honey should be too pink, but somehow when it is blended out on my skin, it is an exact match. For the new Candleglow Foundation formula, Honey works well on my skin, but Dusk also works too. Dusk by comparison is more olive and cool-toned but it oxidizes on my skin so it adjusts to match my neck exactly. Golden worked on me a couple of months ago when I was a bit darker, but I’m losing my tan so it’s just a tad bit too dark for me. My perfect match happens when I mix all three shades, but I find myself reaching for either Honey or Dusk most. The formula is pretty forgiving. If you know what your shade is in the Flawless Fluide formula, your Candleglow shade should probably be the same.

Swatches, first set straight from the pump:

Blended out a little:

Swatch comparisons:

Above from left to right:

I would say for a natural glowy foundation/base, my favorite is still the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer because it’s not like a traditional tinted moisturizer, but has that lightweight feel. For me the NARS gives me just the right amount of natural coverage on days I only need a light base. It lasts all day without getting too dewy or greasy looking. Comparing the NARS to the Laura Mercier Candleglow, I prefer the NARS by far. The NARS wears better for my normal/combination skin. I’m in between colors, but the colors match my skintone better. The NARS also lasts longer and doesn’t get as dewy as the one from Laura Mercier.
I’ve also been testing the Armani Maestro Glow Foundation and Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation (both of which I’ll review soon). I’ll have a more detailed comparison in the following posts, but I will say right now out of all the newest glowy foundation launches this year, my favorite is the Becca, followed by Laura Mercier. The one from Armani unfortunately has been a fail for me (details soon).

If you like sheer to medium coverage with a dewy finish I think you’ll like this one. It works for my normal combination skin but I think it would be better suited for those with normal to dry skin. Overall I found it held up very well considering how dewy/glowy it was. I did get a little shiny in the Tzone by 1-2pm – but it was easy to fix with a bit of a touch up. It’s sheerer than I prefer right now because I have spots I like to cover up – but you can fix those with a spot concealer (some of my favorites in this post here). If you’re one who doesn’t like a glow because you find formulas tend to get too dewy by late afternoon, you will probably be better off checking out the Flawless Fluide formula from Laura Mercier or the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint. A huge plus for me with the new Candleglow formula is that it didn’t cause any irritation or breakouts for my super sensitive skin (many foundations clog my pores or cause tiny little bumps all over the face). You can probably experiment with different primers or bases to see how it lasts or wears. I found that primer didn’t make much of a difference in application or lasting power. It works just as well over a regular moisturizer.

Bottom line I the Laura Mercier Candleglow Foundation a solid performer – but may be too dewy in finish for some. Given the sheer coverage and the non-perfect state of my complexion, I do find I need to add something on top of certain areas to give me the coverage I need, but it’s definitely worth checking out for those who want a natural looking glow.

You can find the Laura Mercier Candleglow Foundation at all Laura Mercier counters by now. Online at Laura Mercier, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora and all other Laura Mercier retailers.
Have you checked out this formula yet? What did you think? Did you find a good match?

The Candleglow Foundations were sent courtesy of Laura Mercier for review consideration.

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Highlighters

Edward Bess All Over Seduction Sunlight, Afterglow and Paradise

February 28, 2016

The Edward Bess All Over Seduction ($38) is hands down the best cream highlighter I have every tried and I’m thrilled to finally be able to share his newest color called Paradise which is a shimmering rose with a golden sheen. For those new to his line, the All Over Seduction is a solid cream highlighter that’s cased in a small mirrored compact. They have a natural glowy sheen that I find just perfect – not too sheer, not too sparkly and never looks greasy. There are so many ways to use these, under blush, over powders, on the eyes – basically anywhere you want a bit of a glow. It makes the skin look fresh and naturally dewy.

The two original shades are Sunlight and Afterglow – both of which have been staples in my beauty collection for years. I’ve hit pan many times. Whenever I travel I almost always bring one if not both shades with me. For me it just doesn’t get better than this for cream highlighters.

Sunlight is the lighter option which I’d describe as a light cool-toned champagne glow. The color payoff of course will depend on how fair or deep your skin is. On fairer skintones I suspect this will match your natural skintone more and appear to be more of a transparent sheen. On my medium skin it definitely shows up like a lighter highlighter.

Afterglow is deeper and more of a peachy golden bronze by comparison. On my skin it gives the cheeks that natural healthy lightly sunkissed look. Not quite bronzey, but just barely. I adore this color – I wish I had a powder eyeshadow just like it because it has the perfect mix of light shimmer, bronze color and peach (MAC All That Glitters has a close effect, I like layering that color on top of the cream highlighter on the eyes).

The newest color Paradise is a shimmering golden rose. It’s a highlighter so it is on the natural side just like the other two shades. On my skin I can wear it as a very subtle blush, but it’s still a highlighter and performs as such. For more color I like layering any pink powder blush on top. It’s great for adding a bit of warmth to the skin for that polished glowy natural look.

A closer look at all three:

 

A few comparison swatches:

Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight (review here)
Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Las Salinas (review here)
Tom Ford Cream Blush in Pink Sand (review here)

Bottom line all three are must-haves in my book. They are perfection. For me these are the best kind of cream highlighter to give the skin a natural youthful glow. They glide onto the skin easily, smoothly, don’t emphasize pores and they never look frosty. The All Over Seduction does have a soft fig scent like his lipsticks but it’s not overpowering or too sweet. I highly recommend checking them out.

You can find the Edward Bess All Over Seduction at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and online at Edward Bess. Right now Neiman Marcus has their Beauty Week Gift with Purchase Event going on – there is a department-wide gift but you might want to check out the individual brand gifts too.

Have you checked these out? What’s your favorite cream highlighter?

Paradise sent courtesy of Edward Bess for review consideration.
21 Comments
Haircare

Oribe Travel Trios from Birchbox: Volume Set and Surf Set

February 25, 2016

There are two new Oribe travel trios that just launched from Birchbox. I’ve been a lover of all things Oribe for a long time but if you’re like me you probably try items from the line piece by piece due to the splurgy prices. The two sets contain travel sizes of some styling products. One is called the Volume Set ($58) and the other is the Surf Set ($55). I die for minis so I think these two sets are just perfect. Both come in a compact clear zip case to hold for travel. All have that signature soft Oribe scent which is hard to describe but smells very distinct and heavenly.

First up is the Volume Set ($58, valued at $66) which contains three styling products for volume. I’m pretty low maintenance on my hair when it comes to volumizing because I have thick hair to begin with. Sometimes I like to use a texturizing product on the ends to add a bit of oomph to the hair, but I’m big on having soft touchable hair. Lots of volumizing products are great at adding volume but make the hair crunchy. Oribe manages to add volume but keep the hair still relatively soft.

In this set are purse-sized minis of:

  • Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse (2.5 oz) – This is a shake and dispense kind of foamy product that you apply to damp hair before styling. I use this before blow drying my hair and it adds volume throughout like nothing else I’ve tried. Hair is full and voluminous after using this one. My hair was left with some texture but still soft. On my hair the volume lasted all day long when I tried this in the morning. It really gives the hair a boost at the roots (which is what I look for when I do look for added volume).
  • Thick Dry Finishing Spray (2.2 oz) – This is a product designed to add a boost to your hair if your hair is prone to getting limp after a blow dry. Out of all the Oribe products I’ve tried this is one of the few that didn’t really do much for my hair – but there is a chance I’m not using this correctly. I’ve tried this a number of ways – after a blow dry, as a refresher, as a touch up product, before going out. It doesn’t really add volume or oomph. It does act like a hair refresher if it’s a tiny bit shiny at the scalp area. If you’ve used this please let me know how you use it! Based on reviews I’ve read, if you have fine hair you will see results. For those with thicker hair like mine, you might not see much of a difference.
  • Dry Texturizing Spray (2.2 oz) – This is one of my favorite hair texturizing products EVER. It’s part dry shampoo and part texturizer – I wash my hair daily but sometimes when it gets a bit oily this is the best oil absorber that doesn’t turn my hair white/grey/dusty looking. I know all dry shampoos say to brush out the product and that the white will disappear. Not all dry shampoos are the same and many make my hair look dusty and grey. The one from Oribe just works. It adds texture and volume and smells incredible.
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Next is the Surf Set ($55) which I really adore. This one has items that are good for creating that slightly undone beachy kind of hair look. My hair has a slight natural wave – when I air dry it, it often gets very big and frizzy. Two of these are miracle workers.

In this set you get:

  • Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse (2.5 oz) – This is a mousse product that feels on the sticky side on the hands. I find this one best used on wet or damp hair and it will give your hair the perfect piecey-beachy kind of textured hair. I found it easy to overdo so I recommend using as little as possible. You do have to give it a good shake before you dispense. I love the results when using this either blow dried or air dried. Hair is left soft but still feels like there’s some texture in it. For me this is more on the high maintenance side so I probably wouldn’t use this on a regular basis.
  • Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray (2.1 oz) – Is a product that is similar to the Surfcomber in the sense it gives your hair that beachy tousled look, but gives the hair a bit of natural shine. The Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray is my favorite beach-hair kind of styling product. I apply it to the hair after washing and towel drying. I let the hair air dry and the result is a natural wavy frizz-free textured kind of look. I really love this one.
  • Supershine Moisturizing Cream (1.7 fl oz) – This is just as the name implies. It adds shine and moisture to the hair making it look healthy. It adds shine without getting too heavy or greasy looking (even by late afternoon or evening). It helps tame flyaways and reduces frizz. I find it helps a lot when my ends get dry looking or feeling. It’s like magic in a tube. I use it as a styling/finishing product best, but it also works as a pre-blowout kind of product to work through damp hair.

Both sets are winners in my opinion. I’ve rarely been let down by anything I’ve tried from Oribe. The only item I’m not 100% in love with is the Thick Dry Finishing Spray – but I need to consult one of my friends on how to use it as I’m pretty sure I’m not using it correctly. I would buy the full size of all other items (I have multiples in the mini sizes).
You can find the Surf Set ($55) and Volume Set ($58) online at Birchbox. You can buy most of the items in the travel size separately, but you do get a bit of a price break by buying the sets. There’s also the Purse Collection ($72) online which has minis of the Superfine Hair Spray, Dry Texturizing Spray, Apres beach Spray and Anti-Humidity Spray.

I highly recommend both sets, they each focus on achieving different looks for the hair, but you can’t go wrong with either. I love the travel sizes in general because they’re really cute. Even is something is phenomenal and comes with high ratings, I still like to try smaller sizes first.
Do you have any Oribe favorites? Please let me know! I die for the Cleansing Creme.
Both Oribe sets sent courtesy of Birchbox for review consideration.

15 Comments
Base Makeup Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation and Magic Complexion Brush Review

February 24, 2016

There are a number of new foundation launches this year and I’ve been working my way through testing several different formulas and brands. One of the formulas that I’ve been most excited about is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation ($44 for 30 ml/1.0 fl oz, made in Italy). This is described as a long-lasting foundation with flawless poreless coverage. It does indeed minimize the look of pores, covers dark circles and gives the skin a more brightened look. There is a new brush that launched called the Magic Complexion Foundation Brush ($55) which I’ve also been playing with. Thoughts on this one in this post as well.

The Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation comes in 15 shades and has an SPF 15. It’s packaged in a glass bottle with a plastic pump dispenser. I find two pumps sufficient to cover the entire face. There are a number of glowy foundation formulas on the market this season – I’m all about the glow, but for foundations I prefer a finish that isn’t too dewy because I have normal combination skin. What I like the best about the new foundation from Charlotte Tilbury is the formula brightens my skin, has enough coverage to covers imperfections and dark spots, and has a natural luminous look without being too dewy. I still need to set with powder, I’ve been using either the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder or the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Powder #2. With either one I get long-lasting wear, it lasts all day long well into the afternoon with minimal touch ups needed (just a tiny blot on the nose for me).

It’s recommended that you use the new foundation in conjunction with the other
Charlotte Tilbury face products such as the Magic Cream, Mini Miracle Eye Wand and Magic Complexion Foundation Brush for the best looking
skin, but I find you can use it over a wide range of moisturizers or
combine it with other concealers. It’s a pretty versatile formula that
offers medium to full coverage. It evens out the skin and offers smooth
flawless coverage.

In terms of color and formula, many know that I had a hard time finding a good match in the Light Wonder Foundation Formula. My closest match winter match was either 4 or 5, but I found I had to mix colors. During the summer I got a lot darker and found 7 to be my best match. Right now for the Magic Foundation formula, I can get away with either 5 or 6. The color adjusts and warms up slightly on the skin after it sets. It doesn’t oxidize too much which is good, but it will warm up a tiny bit.

Some swatch comparisons below. The corresponding shades for the Light Wonder vs Magic are pretty similar. I find the Magic Foundation 5 to be slightly less pink than the Light Wonder 5.

Next up are some thoughts on the new Magic Complexion Foundation Brush.

I had high expectations for the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Complexion Foundation Brush as it seemed very similar to the Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush but priced at a much more affordable price. When I opened the box I was disappointed to see loose hairs flying everywhere. It shed like crazy however after I washed it, the shedding stopped. The ends of the brush look like they have been machine cut. Comparing this to the Tom Ford, the Tom Ford Brush is significantly softer, better made, and seems to be of better quality overall. That being said, the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Complexion brush does perform just as well as the Tom Ford. It buffs the foundation into the skin for a streak-free flawless finish. If you’re looking for a foundation brush that’s soft and will buff in product to a smooth finish, I think it’s something worth looking into. The one from Charlotte Tilbury has a looser fluffier feel that isn’t quite as dense which I find makes it easier to smooth over the larger areas of the face in a circular motion. Here’s a look at both after they’ve both been washed and dried.
In terms of how to apply the Magic Foundation, I think you can use fingers, a beautyblender sponge, or any foundation brush. In the week I’ve been testing this formula, I’ve been using the new Magic Complexion Brush and it’s been working well (that is once I washed it).

Overall I give the new Magic Foundation formula a huge thumbs up. For me I don’t detect any noticeable scent which is a plus. It has sunscreen but doesn’t irritate my super sensitive skin. It has enough coverage to even out the skin and cover my under eye area so I don’t need concealer (but I still use it). Lasting power is good. Finish is more on the natural matte side and looks like your skin but better. I really love the formula of the Magic Foundation – even more so than the Light Wonder and as someone who likes decent coverage but want something that still looks like skin, I’m thrilled with this one. The Magic Complexion Foundation Brush is nice to have, but for me it’s not a must. I do really like the way it performs and I was relieved that the shedding stopped once I washed it. You can use the tools in your current beauty kit to get similar results.
You can find both the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation ($44) and Magic Complexion Brush ($55) online at Charlotte Tilbury now (expected to launch at other retailers soon). Right now Charlotte Tilbury’s website has an exclusive set called the Magic Foundation Kit ($110) which has the brush, foundation of your choice and a mini magic cream.

Have you tried either of these new launches yet? If yes, what did you think? I’d be curious to know what color you’re matched to if you have!

Both the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundations and Magic Complexion Brush were sent courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury for review consideration.
20 Comments
Eye Makeup

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 28 Green-Brown

February 23, 2016
I discovered Natasha Denona’s beauty line earlier this year thanks to Beautylish. I’ve been incorporating parts of her Glowing Skin System into my weekly beauty routine and am a huge fan of her All Over Face and Body Shimmers (full review + swatches in this post here). Her full line was available for preview at IMATS Los Angeles earlier this year with select items available for purchase before the official launch online at Beautylish. Ever since seeing the sneak peek many of you have been asking for a review and swatches of her eyeshadows. You’ve also been wondering when these will launch online at Beautylish. I have a preview of the Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 28 Green-Brown to share today. This palette launches online at Beautylish Thursday February 25th if you sign up for early access here, and on Friday February 26th for everyone else. The rest of her collection (blushes, eyeshadows, lipsticks, glosses etc.) is slated to be available for purchase from Beautylish in early March.

I was kindly gifted the Eyeshadow Palette 28 Green-Brown and it’s the most glorious palette I have ever seen. It’s an impressive size and comes in a glossy leather compact with a large mirror. There is a mix of greens, browns, champagnes, golds, teals. Several of the colors are brighter greens that are outside of my comfort zone – but they layer amazingly well with the neutrals for a more wearable look. The pigment is very rich in color – some of the best I’ve ever tried. Some shades are very sparkly and prone to fallout when you apply them on the eyes. You will most likely have to clean up under the eye after you apply but once they are on the eyes they stay put and don’t budge.

The actual colors in the palette are not labeled, but they do have labels on the back of the box packaging. Here’s what the palette looks like:

Color labels from the box:

Ingredients:
The shimmers are heavenly and the matte shades have a satiny finish:

A closer look, swatches plus two eye looks, below is the left half:

Right half:

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Swatches done by row, from top to bottom. First Set is Row 1 with:
20M true gold
14M antique olive
10M aluminum
15M bottle green
16M emerald green
58V suede
28P satin tan

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Below is Row 2 with:
43P smoky quartz
18M glam greem
45M industrial
21S cream
57V flamingo
64V shell
78M umber

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Row 3 shown below with:
44M indian gold
08V tropic
17M cloudy blue
86P golden aquamarine
85P pininja
59M moonstone
75S skin

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Row 4 shown below:
61P ochre
50M sienna
68M golden flesh
31M cool bronze
62S terracotta
88V arizona
90V sandstorm

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Two quick eye looks for a more conservative/neutral look, you can brighten the look or add more drama by adding the more colorful shades. I like to blend a lot so everything has a more natural washed look.

Look 1 has a mix of Moonstone, Skin, Umber, Shell and Flamingo
Look 2 has a mix of Arizona, Indian Gold, Bottle Green and Glam Green

I believe the Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 28 retails for $239 and the total weight of each shadow is 2.5g/0.08 oz. (I will double check tomorrow when it officially launches to confirm pricing.) It comes at a very steep price tag, but if you were to buy 28 eye shadows individually, it would cost you a lot more in total (her shadows individually are priced at around $25-$29 each). 
When it comes to palettes my personal rule of thumb for deciding whether or not to splurge is to assess if I can see myself using the vast majority of the colors (as in 75% or more) otherwise the palette often ends up sitting in a drawer unused until I rediscover it and gift it away. For this Green-Brown Palette, there are 3 shades I know that are definitely not me (those three green colors in the third row). That factor combined with the steep price would be enough to prevent me from splurging. I don’t mind spending a lot on skincare or perfumes these days, but for makeup it’s still hard for me to justify spending a lot on a single item. That being said, the texture and pigment of the colors in this palette are very good. Every single color performs well in terms of texture, color payoff and lasting power. Overall performance is excellent as long as you don’t mind cleaning up a bit of fallout after application (but I find that’s the case with all powder shadows in general for me). I think this is a solid palette that will allow you to create a wide range of looks. If you have the budget to splurge on this, the overall value is very good and if you break down the price of the total per shade, it’s actually very reasonable (about $8.50ish per shade).
Bottom line solid.
You can now find the the Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 28 in Green-Brown online at Beautylish. If you snagged one during IMATS or the early access preview, let me know if you have checked this one out yet. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts!
The Natasha Denona Palette was generously gifted free of charge. As always, all opinions my own.
9 Comments
L'Occitane

Youthful Glowing Skin with L’Occitane

February 22, 2016

 

When it comes to daily skincare, my main focus is on finding items that are anti-aging and that will help maintain the skin’s natural glow. Keeping the skin smooth and healthy looking are my primary concerns and I’ve been loving the Divine Collection and Immortelle Skincare lines from L’Occitane to keep my skin glowing. My current skincare routine has included a mix of their beauty oils, creams and balms that I find perfect to add just the right amount of hydration while smoothing the skin and improving the complexion. The Divine Cream and Divine Youth Oil are really good at helping transform the overall texture of the skin. With regular use these both have been instrumental at restoring my skin’s natural radiance. The Immortelle items such as the Immortelle Precious Mist and Immortelle Precious Eye Balm are more preventative in treatment for emerging wrinkles. Both also are really good for revitalizing and refreshing the skin.

 

 

Items I’ve been loving and incorporating daily:

 

 

Divine Cream is a lightweight cream moisturizer and has been my daily go-to for months now. It has a smooth texture and very natural light scent to it (it smells like very soft flowers). Each jar contains nearly a hundred Immortelle flowers and the oils give my skin a natural radiant youthful glow. The cream is an anti-aging formula and designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, leaving skin smooth and luminous. I have normal combination skin that needs just a little bit of moisture for day to day. This one is just perfect in terms of texture and it’s non-irritating. It absorbs quickly but has enough moisture to make the skin feel well hydrated. Regular use of this has helped balance the skin and smooth texture. I like that it works well with a wide range of foundations – it won’t break down your makeup but still keeps the skin feeling moisturized and healthy throughout the day.

 

 

The Divine Youth Oil is something I’ve been using for over a year and it’s one of my top three favorite facial oils of all time. A little goes a very long way and as someone who usually finds beauty oils too rich, this one is perfect in texture. It’s not too light and not too rich. I like to use this anytime I’m feeling tightness in the skin or I start to feel the
slightest bit of irritation. It works wonders to calm the skin and restore moisture. When I use it at night, the next morning my skin glows with a noticeably brighter look and firmer feel. It helps reduce the look of fine lines that creep in when my skin gets dry. It definitely feels like youth in a bottle to me, I love that it hydrates the skin and has an almost velvety finish. Lasts all day without getting too dewy.

 

 

 

Immortelle Precious Eye Balm is probably the most impressive skincare item I’ve tried from L’Occitane. I’m in my mid-30’s and don’t have under eye wrinkles yet, but I know using preventive skincare is key. The Immortelle Precious Eye Balm is hands down the most impressive eye treatment I’ve used. It gives the skin an instant brightened look and provides an immediate refreshing awakened feel. It has that same effect that eye masks have in terms of giving your eyes a little spa treatment, but in a balm form. The texture is creamy and almost gel-like. It absorbs quickly and feels incredible – for me it had an instant wow factor from the very first time I tested it out. If you try one thing new from L’Occitane, definitely check out this Eye Balm. It gives life to the skin.

 

 

 

Another favorite that has been featured on the before is the Immortelle Precious Mist. I love a good face mist and this one is one of my favorites because it’s refreshing and hydrating. I like that the mister dispenses an ultra fine mist evenly across the face. This one has the same soothing soft floral scent as other Immortelle products. I love how gentle it is and it’s one of the best facial pick-me-up for mid-day that I’ve tried.

 

 

Last but not least, if you’re into the double cleansing routine and are looking for a cleansing oil that is gentle and hydrating, the Immortelle Oil-Makeup Remover is one I think you should try. I find one pump is enough for the entire face. It has a smooth velvety texture that emulsifies really well with warm water. It will remove waterproof eyeliner and cream shadows, although I still prefer to remove eye makeup separately (it’s just easier for me). After rinsing I find it removes all traces of foundation, powder, concealer and blush without stripping the skin.

 

 

If you’re looking for something to add some radiance and glow to your skincare routine, I highly recommend you check out some of the items from the L’Occitane Immortelle range. If you’re like me and use a wide range of brands for skincare, I found the L’Occitane items easy to incorporate and mix into my daily routine. The items are gentle but effective at reducing emerging signs of wrinkles and in particular helping restore and maintain a youthful glow. My top two favorites right now are the Divine Cream and Immortelle Precious Eye Balm.

 

 

You can find all the items right now at L’Occitane stores and online at usa.loccitane.com.
What’s your skincare routine like right now? As always I’d love to hear about what you’re loving or testing out right now. Do you have any go-to’s to maintain a natural youthful glow?

 

This post was sponsored by L’Occitane, but as always, all opinions my own.

 

8 Comments
Uncategorized

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick Sorbet

February 19, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! Today I’m excited to share a first look at one of the new Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipsticks ($26 for .15 oz/4.35g, made in Canada) in Sorbet. Right now these are online exclusives to Sephora VIB Rouge and VIB Members. They are expected to launch in stores by early March which is just around the corner. The Amuse Bouche Lipstick line replaces the previous Luminous Crème Lipstick with a new and improved formula. There are 34 handcrafted shades with a super creamy texture in pigmented bold colors. All the colors are made with 12 edible oils and come softly scented with a delicious citrus flavor (they are made with fresh pressed fruits). I have one shade to share today in Sorbet which is a medium watermelon pink cream. I’m working my way through swatching the remaining shades (34 shades in total). These lipsticks are one-swipe wonders, super creamy, long lasting, moisturizing and really just incredible.

Sorbet is the perfect bright medium summery pink. It’s bold and bright but not too bright. I teamed up with Bite Beauty to share my favorite color via Instagram and am sharing swatches here on the blog. I swatched a few other colors from my collection and there’s nothing I own that’s quite like Sorbet. It has a brightness to it with the perfect mix of warm and cool and bright.

First a quick look at the packaging, these come in the same design and packaging as the Luminous Crème Lipsticks. By comparison, the new Amuse Bouche formula is significantly more creamy in texture with richer bolder pigment. I found the original formula to be really good, but somehow Bite has managed to make an even better lipstick formula.

Lipstick next to an iPhone and sunglasses for scale:

A look at Bite Beauty Sorbet with a side of sorbet 🙂 It’s always time for dessert right? In direct sunlight Sorbet looks like a warm watermelon pink shade:

Swatched it sometimes looks like a cooler pink, other times it’s warmer, with flash + sun it’s warmer:

Without flash, it looks a bit cooler:


Applied straight from the tube:

Swatched on the lips without flash:

Ingredients:

The lipsticks last an impressive amount of time without feathering or fading. Here’s what the lipstick looked like after 5 hours of wear (it lasted through a few cups of tea and a couple of snacks):

Some comparison swatches: 

Tom Ford Lip Color in Pink Dusk (swatched on lips here)
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita (on lips here)
Charlotte Tilbury Between the Sheets (swatches here)
Tom Ford Lips and Boys Jake (review here)
Tom Ford Lip Color in Forbidden Pink (on the lips here)
Charlotte Tilbury Kiss Chase (review here)

When brands reformulate something I love, my first reaction is to panic because I often think why change something that’s already so good? The formula of the Amuse Bouche Lipsticks is a lot better than the original Luminous Creme formula (even though I really liked it). Amuse Bouche has better pigment, richer coverage, more of a shine, better lasting power and better colors. These are a luminous full coverage creamy formula that doesn’t look flat. Even though they are creamy with a naturally glossy shine they adhere well to the lips and don’t feel like they are sliding off (and they stay put really well). I give these a huge thumbs up.

If you’re a VIB Rouge or VIB member you can order Bite Beauty’s Amuse Bouche Lipsticks online now at Sephora at $26 each. They launch for everyone else online and in stores starting early March. Have you checked these out yet? If so which colors and what did you think?

Amuse Bouche lipsticks provided courtesy of Bite Beauty for review.

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